Paul Finebaum compares perception of Jimbo Fisher to Steve Spurrier

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is about to head into a very important season, feeling the heat a little bit after missing a bowl game in his fifth season in charge of the program in 2022.

At least one ESPN personality would like to see Fisher show his authentic side a bit more, even if it’s one that potentially draws unwelcome headlines.

In fact, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum likened Fisher to another long-time SEC coach: Steve Spurrier. He sees some of the same qualities in Fisher as the former Florida and South Carolina head man.

“Everything Spurrier did was planned,” Finebaum said on the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning program. “He would occasionally call up a couple of people, and I was one of them, where he tried the UT joke out or he tried something else out. He was not off the cuff.

“I think Jimbo is authentic. I mean Jimbo’s got such a great story, too, and I just wish he would sell it more.”

Fisher certainly has a lengthy track record as an FBS head coach. He was at Florida State from 2010-17, taking over for legendary coach Bobby Bowden and successfully doing so. He won a national championship in 2013, the final year of the BCS.

He’s had a handful of New Year’s Six appearances since, but has been unable to produce a 10-win season yet in five years in College Station.

Finebaum thinks some of the fire Jimbo Fisher has shown at various points might serve his Aggies well, especially coming off a 5-7 season.

“Sell what we saw that day when he attacked (Nick) Saban,” Finebaum said. “I know a lot of the audience didn’t like it, but that was a real person there. That was a fiery, like ‘I’m from West Virginia and I’m going to kick your ass if you come after me.’ It didn’t make any sense on certain levels, but when was the last time you saw a coach that real?”

Spurrier was certainly as real as they come. It’s not entirely clear where the comparison comes in outside of both expressing some real moments and having high-level success in the Power 5.

Of course, Jimbo Fisher’s hasn’t been all that recent. After his team went 9-1 during the COVID-19 2020 campaign, Texas A&M has gone just 13-11 over the last two years.

Fisher’s buyout is massive, so the pressure on his job is likely mostly from fans and national media, not necessarily administrative.

Still, it’d go a long way if Fisher could finally crack through and win 10 games, perhaps reaching a New Year’s Six bowl for the second time with Texas A&M.

Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies will get a good litmus test early. They’re set to travel to Miami for a road game in Week 2 of the season after a relatively competitive game last season.